Overview

The Double Degree Medicine Program (DDMP) allows school leavers to start an approved three-year undergraduate degree and follow on with the four-year graduate-entry Doctor of Medicine (MD). Please note that entry into the DDMP is extremely competitive.

Assumed knowledge

Refer to the relevant single degree Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. In addition, from 2019 entry, applicants need to achieve Band 4 in the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) Mathematics (not General Mathematics) or similar result in equivalent interstate or IB subjects. Please click here for further information.

Eligibility

You are only eligible for admission to the first available course intake following receipt of your final results. If your results are not available in time to be considered for the 2019 intake (ie prior to the issue of invitations to the January 2019 assessment), you may be eligible to apply for the 2020 intake.

Selection criteria

Admission to the DDMP is on the basis of a secondary school leaving qualification, such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents) leading to the award of an Australian Tertiary Admission Ranking (ATAR) or equivalent.

The selection process is highly competitive and the selection criteria include:

academic merit – ATAR (or equivalent) expected to be 99.95 for domestic applicants and a similarly high threshold for international applicants; and

an assessment process including a written assessment and a panel discussion.

Assessment

The assessments will be held in December 2018 and January 2019 and you will be contacted by email or telephone if you are eligible. Assessment dates are not negotiable and eligible candidates must attend the first assessment day after the release of their ATAR results.

If you believe that you are eligible to participate in the assessment and you have not been notified, call 1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864).

Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking.

Quota

Each year, up to 30 domestic and 10 international places can be offered for the DDMP.

How to apply

Domestic applicants

Visit the How to Apply page for detailed information on whether you need to apply directly to the University or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants who wish to be considered under the Cadigal Program should apply directly to the University's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Support Team in addition to applying through UAC. For more information on the Cadigal Program, visit sydney.edu.au/ug-special, or call (02) 8627 8619 or email support.cadigal[at]sydney.edu.au or contact Sydney Medical School at med-dent.admissions[at]sydney.edu.au.

International applicants

Visit the How to Apply page for detailed information on whether you need to apply directly to the University or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Timeline for 2019 admission

NOTE: 1) All dates below are subject to change2) Times and dates listed are Sydney, Australia time3) Last updated 25 September 2018

2018

Date

Event

August

Wed 1

E12 applications open

September

Fri 21

Assessment via Skype for international applicants

Fri 28

Close of on time UAC applications

E12 applications close

October

Wed 31

Close of direct applications to the University

December

Fri 14

ATARs released

Close of adding the BSc/MD or the BArts/MD as a preference to be considered for the Assessment on 17 Dec.

Sat 15

Info Day

Sun 16

Change of preference closing date for UAC December Round 2

Mon 17

Assessment day*

Thu 20

UAC December Round 2 offers released

2019

Date

Event

January

Tue 15

Close of adding the BSc/MD or the BArts/MD as a preference to be considered for the Assessment on 21 January

Mon 21

Assessment day*

Change of preferences closing date for UAC January Round 2

Tue 22

Assessment via Skype for international applicants

Fri 25

UAC January Round 2 offers released

*Assessment dates are not negotiable and eligible candidates must attend the first assessment day after the release of their ATAR results.

Domestic applicants MUST attend an assessment in person unless they are under mandatory obligations (e.g. National Service) at the time of assessment. In which case, alternative arrangements will be made, such as an assessment via Skype.

Deferral

Deferral of enrolment following offer of a place in the DDMP will be considered ONLY if applicants are required to fulfill mandatory obligations (e.g. National Service).

Requests for deferral of enrolment in the DDMP along with supporting documentation must be submitted to the University Admissions Office via email: admissions.medicine@sydney.edu.au within 14 days of the date of the offer letter.

Requests will be considered by the Dean of Sydney Medical School and the Dean of the relevant faculty.

Applicants will receive the outcome of the request by email in due course.

Special Consideration

In the interest of equity and fairness to all applicants, those applicants who do not meet the admission criteria, including the required ATAR (or equivalent) and performance in the assessment, will not be considered for admission to the DDMP. The ATAR (or equivalent) requirements shall apply, regardless of circumstances such as illness, misadventure or disadvantage during secondary school or high school studies.

No exemptions and advanced standing

It is not possible for candidates enrolled in the Bachelor of Science/MD or the Bachelor of Arts/MD to obtain credit/advanced standing or exemptions for previous tertiary studies.

In order to progress to the Doctor of Medicine, students need to meet all progression requirements (including satisfactorily completing a zero credit point unit of study in Medicine) during their first degree studies as specified under the BArts/MD or BSc/MD course resolutions found in the respective Faculty Handbook.

Additional requirements

Most students enrolled in the DDMP who have met all the requirements of their bachelor's degree will be permitted to begin the MD without being required to sit the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) or the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT), or participate in the assessment selection process for entry into the Doctor of Medicine.

Impermissible conduct

Sydney Medical School reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject an application for admission or to vary or cancel an offer of admission if your conduct prior to enrolment causes the Medical School to form the view that you are unsuitable for admission to the Doctor of Medicine.

Examples of conduct that might make you unsuitable for admission to the Doctor of Medicine include (but are not limited to):

failure to treat University of Sydney employees, students, applicants or other members of the University community with respect and courtesy, including failure to use appropriate language and tone in your written or verbal communications;

failure to act honestly and ethically in your dealings with University of Sydney employees, students, applicants or other members of the University community;

conduct that results in you being suspended or excluded from the University of Sydney;

conduct that gives Sydney Medical School reasonable cause to believe that enrolling you in clinical training may place you, your peers, or members of the public at risk of harm; and

Professional recognition and career opportunities

Graduates are eligible for registration by medical boards in all Australian states and territories and in New Zealand.

One year of internship is required prior to full registration. Most junior doctors make their career choice during their second postgraduate year, most commonly opting for general practice or one of the other specialties.

Other essential information for applicants

N.B. Sydney Medical School regularly reviews the admission criteria and application processes for its courses, including Double Degree Medicine. It reserves the right to change these criteria and processes without notice. Information on this website provides advice about the currently applicable criteria and processes, and may not be correct for future application periods.